...All interests in the Mindoro, Central and Western Visayas should closely monitor the progress of Typhoon UTOR.

+ FORECAST OUTLOOK: UTOR is expected to continue moving West to WNW making landfall anew over Southern Mindoro this morning before moving out into the South China Sea. The eye shall be crossing San Jose, Occ. Mindoro between 7-8 AM this morning and pass just to the north of Coron (Calamian), Palawan this afternoon around 2 PM. The 3 to 5-day long range forecast (Dec 13 to 15) shows UTOR intensifying further over the South China Sea with projected winds of 185-km/hr (Category 3) as it approaches the Coast of Vietnam and Hainan Island Friday, Dec 15.

+ EFFECTS: UTOR's inner bands continues to affect the Is-lands of Panay, Romblon, Mindoro (including Puerto Galera), Masbate, Ticao, Marinduque and the coastal areas of Southern Quezon & Batangas. Its core (eye + eyewall) is now passing between Tablas and Boracay Islands moving towards Southern Mindoro. Typhoon force winds with moderate to heavy rains can be expected today along inner bands of Utor. Meanwhile, its Outer Bands continues to spread across Northern Palawan, Luzon, Visayas and the whole Bicol Region. 30 to 50 km/hr winds and rains can be expected along areas affected by the outer bands. People living around the slopes of Mayon Volcano in Albay especially along areas where possible LAHAR FLOWS (mixture of volcanic mud and water) are loca-ted - must be evacuated now.Coastal Storm Surge flooding of 4 to 5 feet above normal tide levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the north of where the center of UTOR passes by over Nor-thern Panay, Romblon and Mindoro.Important Note:Please keep in mind that the above forecast outlook, effects & current monsoon intensity, and tropical cyclone watch changes every 06 to 12 hours!_______________________________________________________________________

REMARKS: 2 AM (18 GMT) 10 DECEMBER POSITION: 12.1N 122.8E.^TY Utor is expected to maintain intensity or weaken only slightly through 24 hours under the competing influences of land interaction and good upper level outflow. The storm is then expected to intensify in the South China Sea at a slightly less than Climatological rate between 24 and 72 hours as continued good upper level outflow is somewhat offset by entrainment of drier air from the asian continent...(more info)

* - Based on PAGASA's Philippine Storm Warning Signals, # 4 being the highest. Red letters indicate new areas being hoisted. For more explanations on these signals, visit: http://www.typhoon2000.ph/signals.htm

** - Based on the Tropical Cyclone's Wave Height near its center.__________________________________________________________________________________________>> To know the meteorological terminologies and acronyms used on this update visit the ff: